On January 21, 2020, our Beijing studio and client Sunshine Insurance celebrated the topping out of the new Sunshine Insurance Financial Center in Beijing’s financial district. The 205-meter tall building—which is adjacent to China Media Group headquarters and China World Trade Center—challenges the conventional square footprint commonly found in this precinct. Taking inspiration from a lotus flower, the ground-level podium’s bulbous form provides an open ceiling that highlights plantings in the garden.

“The unique design strategy resolves the site’s limitation as we attempt to maximize the project’s value given a compact site area with other office towers nearby,” Jean Weng, the firm’s Director of its China-based studios, said.

The square base of the development gradually transforms into an oval-shaped crown as it ascends 42 stories into the sky, providing 360-degree views to the surrounding city. The interiors comprise offices, multi-functional event spaces and business amenities spanning 90,000 square meters. Its sustainability agenda is targeting a LEED Gold rating.